Ornamenting machine



July 147 B. W. FREEM N Er AL ORNAMENTING MACHINE 6 sheets hget l FiledMay 31 1935 Jwhmw 1.70700 5 "Men July 14, 1936. B. w. FREEMAN ET ALORNAMENTING MACHINE Filed May 31 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 abtovwm B. w.FREEMAN ET AL 2,047,193

ORNAMENTING MACHINE Filed May 51, 1955 6 ShGB tS ShSGt 5 767171Sckneider.

July 14, 1936.

July 14, 1936.

B. w. FREEMAN ET AL ORNAMENTING MACHINE Filed May 31, 1935 6 SheetS-SheQt 4 mm m m July 14, 1936. B. w. FREEMAN ET AL ORNAMENTING MACHINE sSheets-Sheet 5 'Filed May 31, 1935 Beg i2 nsbkrzeidef.

Patented July 14, 1936 PATENT OFFICE 2,047,198 ORNAMENTING MACHINEBenjamin W; Freeman,

John Schneider, Louis G. a corporation of Ohio Application May 31. 1935,Serial No, 24,439 (or. 101-316) 39 Claims.

The present invention relates'to machines for use in the manufacture ofboots and shoes, and more particularly to combined marking and cut tingmachines adapted for operations upon skins,

5 upper blanks, fitted or closed uppers, and.the like, in which thework'is marked with ink, pigment, or its equivalent, at the same time oras part of a. cycle of operations during which the work is alsoornamented by perforating or cutting out the design therein.

More particularly this invention relates to improvements upon devicesand machines for accomplishing such work, as mentioned, described,and-claimed in our co-pending applica- 75 tion, Serial No. 753,766,filed November 19th, 1934, and to which reference is hereby made.

These machines are. of the 'type intended for use as universal? cutoutand marking machines, particularly intended for work on shoes, leather,

0 and shoe materials, where the work is of widely varying contour anddesign, the machines being adapted to operate not only upon fiatmaterial, but also to perform operations on other than flat. work, suchas closed and fitted uppers and other 5 types of ring-like work.

Among the objects of the invention are the formation of ornamentaldesigns in the work by the application of a stamped or printed marking,which may simulate stitching, or may take the 0 form of a design, by theproduction of ornamental cut outs in the work, by combinations of bothmarked and perforated designs, and in performing the marking and cuttingoperations, either simultaneously or during a. continuous cycle of 5operations. 1

Reference to stamped or printed markings is made herein because of itsuniversal adaptation to all types of leather; however, the presentinvention is likewise readily adaptable to the. pro

3 duction of other forms of marking, e. g., impression or indentation ofthe work. It is an object herein to provide means for applying oneformof marking or another, by a slight adjustment.

Markings may be used as a guide for subsequent operations on the shoeparts, such as aligning the parts relative to each other, stitching,etc.

It is contemplated that the marking device may be combined with or forma part of the conventional stripper plate whichis normally designed forstripping the work from the cutting edges of the die.

Various safety mechanisms assuring a predetermined cycle of operations,and designed to prevent injury to an operator or to the work Cincinnati,Ohio, and

Latonia, Ky., assignors to The Freeman Company,

Cincinnati, Ohio,

, tioned, by means of suitable gaging devices. A

backing medium of paper or its equivalent may be provided between thework andthe support.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a singlecontrol, as a treadle, for operating mechanism by means of which the diemay be moved into an operating position, inked during its passage tosuch position, the main operating clutch of the machine released, thework support and operating plunger raised toefiect an ornamentingoperation, and the die thereafter moved to a position away from anoperator who is then free to remove the work from the machine. a Ourcopending application aforesaid, illustrates the broad principle of amechanism for accomplishing these several results, under a singlecontrol, and the disclosures herein aim toward simplification of thedriving or operating mechanism, and the arrangement of such mechanism ina compact unit, this being one of the improvements over the machine ofthe copending application, the general aims and objects as set forth insaid application, being, however, retained. Another improvementcontemplates automatic control of movements of the operating plunger andother portions of the machine, by the die carriage whereby to obtain amore perfect synchronism, and accurate relation of parts.

Ornamenting machines for forming cutouts in a work piece, or for markingsame, and for efiecting both operations, are of course known, but theseprior art machines either cannot handle extremely heavy work, or workinvolving the pressures required to produce a very great number ofperforations, or experience difficulty in stripping the work after anoperation. As the number of'cutouts or perforations increases, thepressure requirements for ornamenting and for stripping also increaseand a primary purpose of this invention is to overcome such difiicultieswithout, however, increasing the size of the machine to an impracticaldegree.

Among the main or principal features of this machine are a substantialdifference in the arrangement of parts over prior art machines whichendeavor to obtain similar results, i. e,

inking of the marking elements. It also permits a decrease in theoperating stroke of the plunger. as compared with prior art machines,and avoids excessive inertia in moving parts. Furthermore, where it wasessential from the standpoint of safety in many prior art machines, thatthe operator wait until all moving parts had come to rest, with thepresent apparatus the operator may be handling the work in perfectsafety even though the die is still moving to its inoperative positionafter cutting or marking the work.

One of the most important features of the present invention relates tothe mechanism and method of stripping the work from the die.Conventional strippers include some mechanism directly associated withthe die unit, e. g., a stripper plate mounted on springs which serve tonormally maintain the plate in a position slightly in advance of thecutting edge of the die. The spring pressure must be so adjusted as toaccommodate varying thicknesses of leather or other material upon whichthe die is working and difllculties arise in this connection,particularly when markdepressed by the material, more than would be thecase with thin leather. Varying pressures are required with differentcharacters of leather aswell-as with different thicknesses, and as thenumber of cutouts or perforations in a piece of work is increased, theneed for greater pressure likewise increases, and such pressures arevery diflicult of attainment with the conventional stripping devices nowin use.

These difficulties and objections have been largely overcome by mypatented methods and devices for ink marking and cutting, mentioned inour aforesaid application, but even they are limited as to the treatmentof extremely heavy work, requiring heretofore unheard of pressures insuch machines. In other words, some desired types of work requirepressures too great for satisfactory stripping.

In the solution of these problems, particularly that of extremepressures, the present invention contemplates a stripping mechanismwherein the pressure is applied by an arrangement independent ofanyparticular die, this being accomplished by building a stripperpressure applying mechanism into the machine, as distinguished 'fromcomplete stripping arrangement. The usual stripper plate, mounted inadvance of the cutters, is retained, and this plate may be form withmarking edges thereon.

In commenting upon the universal features of this machine, it should benoted that the structure is readily adaptable to various types of diesand to various operations. For example, a selfcontained auxiliary typeof die and paper feed 75 mechanism may be utilized by placement of suching edges are placed on the stripper. Thus if supplying an individualdie with a self-contained,

auxiliary mechanism upon the work support, which will then act to movethe auxiliary die, with the work support, toward the slidable die,carriage in the head of the machine, which carriage will function as aresistance or reaction 5 member.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will appearas the description proceeds, reference may be made to the accompanyingdrawings in which:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred form of machine;

" Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Fig.3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is anenlarged detail in elevation of a 15 clutch control device.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4. V

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of another control device.

Fig. 'l is a top plan of the die carriage, illus-' trating the stripperpressure applying member. h

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the carriage,'il"- lustrating thestripper pressure applying mechanism and a die with its stripper platemounted 2 on the carriage.

Fig. 9 is a top plan of the die block forming the base of the carriage.

Fig. 10 is an elevation thereof.-

Fig. 11 is a detail in section of a stripper pin, 30 and Fig. 12 is anend elevation of the ink applying mechanism, somewhat enlarged.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, in which like referencenumerals designate like parts, there is disclosed a main frame orhousing l5 which may be carried by a suitable base; a work supportingplunger I6 is mounted in the housing for vertical reciprocation in themanner described in copending application, Serial No. 753,766. A dieholder or carriage i1 is mounted upon a track or guideway l8-l8 in theupper portion of the frame for horizontal reciprocating movement from aninoperative position at the rear of the machine to an operating positionover' the work support, rollers l9-I9 being provided for the purpose.

Power may be supplied to the machine through a main shaft 20 which willmount for free rotation, a suitable fly-wheel pulley (not shown) Theshaft 20 will be connected to actuate the plunger l6, when clutched tothe fiy-wheel, as hereinafter described. The die carriage may beconveniently driven by a compact driving unit mounted at the upper rearof the machine, on a shelf or bracket 25. A pulley 26 is provided inthis unit for connection by suitable belt gearing to the constantlydriven fiy-wheel pulley mounted thereon.

Die holding carriage drive and control from the main source of powerapplied to the pulley by the constantly driven fly-wheel. This shaft haskeyed to it a clutch member 28, the hub of which extends along the shaftinto a shaft bearing 29. A clutch unit 30, cooperative with the keyedmember 28 is mounted for free movement on the shaft, the complete clutchbeing con trolled by a clutch control unit carried by a base 3|, whichis secured to the bracket 25. This unit is best shown in Figs. 4 and 5,and comprises a stub shaft.32 secured inthe bearing 33 and upon whichshaft is pivoted a lever 34. The lever 34 the shaft 21.

terminates in a tapered finger 35 which projects intoan annular channel36 of the clutch control unit. '38, which unit, as has been stated, isfree upon the shaft 21. Slidable transversely of the slot is a clutchkey 31, which is spring urged across the channel 36 and through the unit38 to a position where it will project into a suitable recess in theclutch member 28 which is keyed to the shaft 21. Thus it will be seenthat the key 31 affords a means of clutchingthe unit 38 to the member 28for rotation therewith as the shaft 21 rotates. resting in the channel36, will block the key 31 and hold it against its spring pressure, thuskeeping the unit 38 and member 28 is a declutched hook 4|. An adjustablecam finger 44 is secured to the base 3|, this finger having a roundedend engageable with the under surface of the dog 48, said under surfacebeing curvedvor cam shaped. The operation of this control device is asfollows: A pull on the link 39 actuates the crank 38, where by the hook4|, engages the flange 43, pulls the lever 34 and the finger 35 out ofthe path of the key 31, which under influence of its spring, immediatelyclutches the member 28. As the dog 48 rides over the finger 44, thecamming action thereof raises the hook to release the flange 43,

whereupon the finger 35 drops back into the channel 36, and as the unit38 completes its revolution, the tapered end of the finger 36 engagesthe clutch key 31 and forces it back to declutch the unit 38 from themember 28. Thus the unit 38 will make but a single revolution, althoughthe member 28 will be continuously rotating under influence of thecontinuously rotating pulley 26.

Formed as a part of the clutch unit 38 is a small gear 49 .(Fig. 1)which meshes with a larger gear 58, keyed to a shaft 5|, this shaftparalleling In the illustrated embodiment, the gear ratio between thegears 48 and 58 is four to one, whereupon the shaft 21 must rotate fourtimes to produce a single complete revolution of the shaft 5|.

Secured to the end of the shaft 5| is a crank arm 52 which may besuitably counterweighted as indicateclat 53, this crank arm beingconnected to an adjustable connecting rod 54,- which in turn is directlyconnected to the carriage l1. Thus it will be seen that as the clutchunit 38 is coupled to the clutch member 28, the carriage will beactuated. But as it is necessary for the shaft 21 tov rotate fourtimesto produce a complete rotary movement of the shaft 5| and hence acomplete movement of the carriage |1, means must beprovided forpreventing a declutching of the unit 38 after the single revolution ofthe shaft 21. To this end a cam 55 is secured to the'shaft 5| andprovided with two oppositely disposed high surfaces. The lever 34carries a cam roll 56, cooperating with the cam 55, the action beingthat one high surface of the cam engages the roll prior to completion ofthe first revolution of the shaft 21, and the finger 35 is thus held outof the path of the key 31,-permitting the shaft 21 to make a secondrevolution. will have reached its outermost or forward posi- Normally,however, the finger 35,

By this time the carriage tion, and the cam 65 will have released theroll, and the carriage is free to stop as the unit 38 is declutched.Means hereinafter described are provided for automatically tripping thelink 38 at a predetermined point in the cycle so that the carriage'maybe returned.

Mounted in suitable bearings at the side of the housing I5 is a rockshaft 51, to which is secured a treadle link 58. The shaft 51 carries acrank arm 58 which is connected by a link 68 to a bell crank 6|, whichin turn is pivoted to the actuator link 38. Depression of the link 58 byits treadle (not shown), will rock the shaft 51 causing a correspondingmovement of the linkage to the link 39, thus operating the clutchcontrol mechanism, and initiating operation of the machine.

The remainder of the sequence of machine operations is entirelyautomatic.

The shaft 5| carries an eccentric 41 which cooperates with a normallyfixed but-adjustable brake shoe 48 and as the carriage reaches the endof a stroke, the high point of the eccentric will engage the brake shoeand the parts thus will be quickly brought to rest.

Plunger actuating and control mechanism In making perforations in shoeparts, it is important that the die be forced through the work with ahammer-like blow, and of course it is also essential that the die beaccurately aligned with the workat the time this hammer-like blow isstruck. Accordingly, movement of the plunger which carries the work intoengagement with the die, to strike the blow, is controlled, in thepreferred embodiment herein described, by the die carriage itself, asdistinguished from a separate control mechanism, thus ensuring moreper-' feet synchronism of operations. 3

To this end a lug or dog 62 is secured to theside of the die carriage insuch a position as to engage a crank arm 63 projecting into the path ofcarrying a dog 68 having a hook at one .end and a spring at the otherend as in the case of the dog 48. An adjustable cam finger 69 is mountedon a frame in a position to engage the curved under surface of the dog68. Also pivoted to the side of'the frame is an arm 18 carrying a plateor flange 1| in position for engagement by a dog 68. The arm 18 isconnected to a link 12 which in turn is pivoted to a clutch controllever 13, cooperating with a clutch unit keyed to the shaft 28 anddesignated generally at 14, the structure of the clutch beingsubstantially identical with the unit 38. The clutch key of the unit 14will, upon release by the lever 13, slide into engagement with theconstantly driven fiy-wheel, thus clutching the shaft 28 thereto, andupon rotation of the shaft 28, the plunger |6 will be given a quickmovement upwardly a ainst the die, and return. Details of the drivingmechanism for the plunger may be found by reference to copendingapplication Serial No. 753,766, this particular structure herein beingidentical therewith.

the carriage, on its forward stroke. It is necessary to keep thecarriage in its forward position only long enough to accommodate themovement of the plunger, and hence return of the die carriage may becontrolled directly by the plunger shaft 51. This hook slips intoengagement with the flange 8I on the upper movement of the plunger andon the downward movement of the plunger pulls the flange to rock theshaft 51, thereby tripping the clutch control lever 34, just as thoughthe treadle link 58 had been depressed. As the shaft rocks, the dog 89slips off the flange 8| and the shaft 51 is then free to return to itsoriginal position under influence of the customary treadle spring. Inthe meantime, however, the shaft 21 will have made two more revolutions,causing a half revolution of 'theshaft 5| and returning the carriage toits original position.

Should it be desired to leave the carriage at the forward end of itsstroke, without return, the pin 82, which latches the link 18 to the arm11, may be withdrawn whereupon the crank I9 will not operate to trip orrock the shaft 51.

As the arm 'II moves downward with the plunger, it engages a projectinglever 83, which is pivotally connected to a brake shoe 8, designed toengage the exterior of the clutch element I4 and quickly bring theplunger and associated parts to rest.

. hiking mechanism In order to ink the marking die, there is provided aninking mechanism including an ink-roll 85, this mechanism also includingan ink distributing roll resiliently cooperable therewith.

' The shaft on which the ink roll 85 is mounted is driven bya pulley 86which is connected through suitable belt gearing to a driving pulley 81on the shaft 53. Inasmuch as it is advantageous to ink the marking dieonly as the carriage moves to its forward or operating position, the inkroll is located below the path of the die so that it normally will notcontact the marking die. Means are provided for raising the ink rollsothat it will contact the marking element on the forward stroke, andreleasing it so that it will not contact the marking elementon thereturn stroke. To this end the ink roll is resiliently and adjustablymounted in brackets 88 which are pinned to a rock shaft 89. A link 99pivoted intermediate its ends to the housing I5, is pinned at one end tothe rock shaft 89, and carries at its other end, cam rollengageable-with the cam 9| on the shaft 5|. The cam 9| is suitablycontoured so .as to depress the end of the link 99, thus raising the inkroll at the other end, for the desired length of time and at the desiredpart of the cycle.

Interposed between the shaft of the roll 85 and the shaft on which thepulley 86 is mounted, is

a pair of driving discs generally indicated at 92,

and one of which carries a pin adapted to ride in a slot of the otherdisc. This arrangement permits movement of the ink roll mechanism intoand out of operative position, without disturbing the drivingarrangement through the pulley 86.

Stripping mechanism Referring now particularly to Figs. 7 to 11inclusive, the details of the improved stripping and pressure applyingmechanism may "be seen. As shown in Fig. 8, the die carriage I1 is builtin the form of a hollow block or housing having an upper box-likesection I'Ia, to the top .or closed face of which are secured therollers I9. Extending across the lower open side of the casing l'l-a isa thick plate II-b, which acts to close and complete the housing. Thedie unit D is detachably secured to the lower outer face of the blockI'Ib in a known manner, as described in detail in my Patent No.1,990,597, dated February 12, 1935, and carries the usual stripper plateS, upon which may be mounted ink marking elements M. Conventional strutsor sleeves 93 which space the cutter portion of the die from the dieblock, or base,

7 which is attached to the block I'|b, are provided,

and the plate S carries a series of upstanding pins which slide freelywithin the sleeves. Certain of these pins, indicated at 94, abut springs95 within the respective sleeves. The springs 95 preferably are verylight and only of suflicient strength to maintain the plate .8 slightlyadvanced from the cutters in the die D, it being understood that theplate S will be shaped as usual to permit passage-0f the cuttingelements through or past the plate, to the work. The rest of the pins,indicated at 96, are free to slide, not only through their re spectivesleeves, but also through the die block, and are of such a length as toproject slightly into the block I'Ib, when the ornamenting operation istaking place on the work.

Within the casing I 'I-a, and secured to the inner face of the top wallthereof, are a series of struts 91, the length of which is equal to thedistance between the inner surface of such wall and the inner surface ofthe plate I'Ib. The purpose of these struts is to reinforce and back up.

the plate Il-b, which will be subjected to extremely high pressures innormal operation. Any desired number of struts 91 may be utilized aswill be found necessary.

The side walls of the casing I'I-a will be cut out over a substantialdistance front to rear, as indicated at 98. Within the carriage I1 is aplate 99, which is freely movable insofar as the housing II-a itself isconcerned, and this plate is formed with extensions 99-a, which projectthrough the cut-outs or openings 98, extending beyond the side wallsof-the die carriage or housing II-a. -A series of studs I99 extendthrough the plate 99 and are rigidly secured thereto. The ends IOU-a ofthe studs whichproject above the plate are relatively small in diameterand act as guides for springs IOI which extend between the plate 99 andthe top wall of the housing I'Ia. The block or plate "-1) is formed witha series of holes I92 and the studs I99 have their lower ends IOU-bprojecting into these openings. At their extreme lower ends, the studsare enlarged to form heads I99c which are of substantially the samediameter as the openings I92, except for necessary clearance.

When the die D is secured in operating position on the plate or blockII-b, the position of the pins 96 willbe such that they can freely enterthe respective openings I92.

The plunger or work support I 6 is provided with heavy, rigid upstandingposts I93 at each side, these posts being positioned to engage, inbalanced relation, the extensions 99-a of the plate 99. when the plungeris in its upward posiconsequently when the marking element touches thework, it will operate, and this operation will be followed by thecutting out step, bymeans of the die D, as further relative movementtakes place between the work support and the die carriage. In themeantime, as the posts have moved toward thedie carriage, the posts willact to push the plate 99and studs IOU-carried thereby away from theblock "-12, at the same time depressing the springs llll. These springsare quite heavy, the number and strength thereof being proportioned toaccord with the desired requirements.

As the studs I00 move with the plate 99, clearance will be affordedbeneath the heads IOB-c of the studs, for the upper ends of the pins 96on the stripper plate. However, as the die carriage and the work supportbegin to separate after an ornamenting operation on the work, the postsI93 will release the plate 99 and the springs llll will exert a veryheavy pressure against the pressure plate 99, pushing it downwardly,whereby the stripping plate S will be pushedaway from the cutters of thedie D by engagement of the pins 96 with the studs I00.

The openings I02 are of greater cross-sectional. area than the pins 96,and are so distributed throughout the plate "D, as to permit a wideleeway to the die maker in locating the pins 96.

It will be'found that the pressure exerted by the springs H issufiicient to strip any work which may be encountered. While in thepresent embodiment, the stripper and marking plate are the same, anyconventional form of stripper plate may be used in a machine which isotherwise designed forfmarking this stripper and pressure applyingmechanism being of general application, regardless of whetherthe machineis specifically designed for cutting. per se, marking per se, or

both. The springs 95 will usually be made so light and few in number asto'be inefilcient for stripping purposes, thereby avoidingany question,of cutting, indenting orotherwise producing undesirable markings.However, itis within the scope of this invention tomake these springsofsufficient strength and number to strip, in a conventional manner, whichstripping maybe used in conjunction'with the springlmeans llll.

Inasmuch asthe stripping pressures are high, it may be found desirableto utilize lugs I05 on the die holder to assist the usual dovetail on;the base of the die unit D in retaining the die unit in position on thecarriage or holder II. In other words, the die may be held at apluralityof points rather than bya central dovetail per; se, so that all thestrain is not thrown on the dovetail plate at the bottom of the die whenthe inde- ,pendently mounted stripping pressing means is functioning.

To ensure accurate placement of the work on gag-es such that the workcan be quickly positioned in accurate alignment with the operatingposition of the die. Openings may be provided through the plate and theplunger surfaced with brass or other soft metal beneath the plate, toprevent dulling of the cutting dies.

A gaging mask might readily be utilized either in conjunction with or inlieu of such gaging devices. For that matter, a mask or clamp having nogaging function may be provided to-cooperate with any desired type ofgage for holding the work in its aligned position.

The usual paper backing may be utilized also,

to secure satisfactory cutting of the work, and preferably will be fedacross the surface of the plunger, beneath the gaging plate, being takenfrom any convenient source of supply in the machina,

Having thus described the invention, the operation and automaticfeaturcsthereof will be readily apparent. The normal position of rest, is withthe die carriage at the rear of the machine, away from the operator, andthe work table or plunger in its-lowermost position, the main flywheelpulley of course, continuously rotating. Work may be placed on theplunger, and accurately gaged or aligned with respect to the operatingposition of the die. Then with a depression ofthe single treadleconnected to the link 58, the machine is caused to operate, the diecarriage moves forwardly, trips the plunger control and the plungerrises to strike a hammer-like blow against the die D. While striking theblow, the posts I03 will have raised the plate 99. As it returns to itsoriginal position, the plunger trips the die carriage mechanism and thedie carriage recedes to therear of the machine, the plate 99 in themeantime having acted through the pins 95 and stripper S to strip thework. The marking elements will have been inked on the forward stroke bythe medium of the inking mechanism 85.

With the arrangement of controls for the, die carriage and plungeractuating mechanisms, as described, it is possible to operatethe plungerand carriage in synchronized relation, to operate either to theexclusion of the other, or to operate the carriage through ahalf-stroke, i. e., outwardly to a forward position and stop, orinwardyly to a rear position and stop, either alone, or

in conjunction with the plunger movement.

It is further evident that themachine is designed for either cutting ormarking per se, orin combination. l i

. Important advantages are obtained by the conrelative. to the backingpapenwith a tendency toward; displacement of the "work, by contactthrough the openings in'the gage plate.

Hence, in" machines with slidable work supports, the openings in thegage plate are made as small as possible and beneath them is securedanotherplate-fllling all thespace' possible between the work?v and thebacking paper, as described in "Patent'No. 1,990,593,1to prevent suchdisplacement of .thework. The present machine, however, offers no.relative movement between the backing paper and the work, after the workis located; and i up until the time that the cutting out and markingoperation; takes place. Therefore, the holeinthegage platecan be madelarger, whereupon that portion of the work to be marked will be restingvdirectlyvon. the backing paper and when the-marking element contacts thework, the ,work will be bottomed against the paper and not held awayfrom it by the edges of the opening in the gage plate. This prevents theplace can be regulated,

tion, the work can marking elements from first contacting the work andthen moving with the work. to bottom it against the paper backing, anoperation that might result in a slight shifting of the work, andproduction of a wide or blurred mark, or a double mark. Further, thethin plate across the bottom of the gage plate can be eliminated. Thework can be out completely around, a feature which is not practicalwhere there is a movement between the work table and the plunger, as thework would go through the opening in the gage plate.

Too much cannot be said about the utility and advantages of the improvedstripping mechanism and its operation, as the described arrangementrepresents a radical departure from mechanisms and stripping operationsas have been commonly used heretofore. The time or point during thecycle of operation and it is most desirable that the stripping will thework is not pressed against the supporting plate, as would be the casewith conventional strippers, wherein springs, rubber or the like exert astrong pressure at all times against the stripping plate. That is tosay, in the described arrangement there may be no pressure on thestripping plate .at'such times as marking and cutting operations arebeing effected, in which case the springs 95 are deliberately made sosmall and light as to be inoperative and oifer no resistance when thereis any pressure directed against the stripping plate from below. Thisarrangement allows the marking element to perform its functions ofmarking without indenting the leather, without forcing the ink into thefibers of the leather or even below the normal surface, thereby giving anice, light, legible mark that is easily removed from the work, whereremoval of such marks is necessary.

By stripping at a different time or point in the cycle, from that ofcutting out, thereby not forcing the marking edge into dangers ofcutting the work are avoided.

By marking lightly, but legibly, there is a substantial saving in theamount ofink required.

By the use of this mechanism, certain types of work can be stripped.where conventional spring mounted strippers would fail to functionproperly. Y

This applies in many instances to rubber strippers. With some charactersof work, it has been impossible to strip completely with a conventionalstripping mechanism where the pressure mechanism is built within thedie, but with this invenbe completely stripped, thus avoiding anynecessity of the operator withdrawing by hand the work which might beclinging to the cutting elements of the die.

The present device may be successfully. used for impression marking onall thicknesses and char-' acters of work, as the posts which engage thestripper pressure plate can be so adjusted as to permit the properamount of pressure to be ap- .plied, at the proper time and to the depthdesired.

Uniform marking of variant thicknesses or characters of material ina-uniform manner is attained.

structurally speaking, it may many of the advantages inherent areobtained by separating the stripper pressure applying mechanism from thedie; that is, the stripper pressure applying mechanism is a unit builtinto the machine, independent of any particular die, and the point atwhich the stripping that the stripping takes take place entirely whenthe material,

' less of the type of die operating the machine in be noted that,

in this device pressure can be applied may be set by adjustment for anyparticular time during the cycleof operations.

The amount of stripping Pressure may be varied by increasing ordecreasing the number of springs in the pressure applying mechanism. Fora particular stripping pressure mechanism, there is a constant strippingpressure, regardless of the pressure required to strip the work from agiven die. This makes it possible to build into one mechanism pressureof a capacity for any die regardless of the stripping pressure requiredfor .8 Particular die.

Many economies in the manufacture of dies may be effected by thearrangement of this invention. Inasmuch-as the means for providing allstripping pressure is not required in an.individual die, due to the factthat one stripping mechanism in the machine provides the major strippingpressure for any and all dies that are used in connection therewith, thepressure mechanism being built into struction itself can be simplifiedby the elimination of stripper springs, rubber strippers, reduction inthe number of stripper posts and simplification of the parts themselves,etc.

Still another important advantage is found in the fact that byeliminating the stripper pre e the machine, the die con- By simplifyingthe stripper posts andredu'cing the number, it is possible to locatethese posts at points in the die heretofore thought impossible, due tothe small space provided. Marking plates can,be made in sectionscorresponding to work to be cut andmarked and may be provided with a topsurface, portions of in some points than in others, thereby accommodating a marking die to laminated work such as appliques, overlays,foxings, saddles, and the like, which in'a closed shoe upper, form asurface varying in level. A marking plate, made in sections, will adjustitself readily to care for the varying levels or thicknesses of the workwithout exerting greater pressure on high points than on low points, orin other-words, the marking will be uniform throughout.

Again, an even distribution used, is obtained, and tendency towardrocking or tilting of the stripper plate, thereby avoided. This preventsbinding of the plate S, which might happen if the plate tilted, withattendant failure to strip.

The entire construction herein described, re gardless of detail andmodification, isintended to be foolproof, as the machine operation is sosafe and automatic that a relatively inexperienced operator would haveno diiliculty in a safe manner.

It will be understood that this description is but illustrative and itis not intended that the invention shall be limited'thereby, other thanas defined in the'appended claims. By way of example, the markingelements might be located elsewhere than on the stripper/ 1am S, ormight be oinitted; the cutting elements might be relocated, modiiied-oromitted; theclutch 28-", which is conventional in nature, might bereplaced with a roller clutch and suitable adjustments provided in theclutch control unit therefor, and such changes would certainly be withinthe scope of this invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we which are higher strippingmeans;

ent of the United States, is:-

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- 1.' In an ornamentingmachine of the class described, a' die, stripping means therefor, andmeans independent of said die for applying stripping'pressure to saidstripping means.- e

2. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor, and means mounted in spaced relation to said die,effective to apply stripping pressure to said stripping means. I

3. In an ornamenting machine of the class de scribed, a die, strippingmeans therefor, means independent of said die for applying strippingpressure to said stripping means, and means to vary the operatingrelation between said pressure applying means and said stripping means.4. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor, means mounted in spaced relation to said die, effectiveto apply stripping pressure to said stripping means, and means to varythe operating relation between said pressure applying means and saidstripping means.

5. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a die detachablymounted in said machine, stripping means carried by said die, and meansindependent of said die, mounted in said machine, for applying strippingpressure to said stripping means.

6. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor, and

meansseparate from said die for actuating said stripping means.

7. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor, and

means separate from said stripping means for,

actuating the same.

8. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor, and means separate from said die and said strippingmeans for actuating the latter.

9. In an ornamenting machine of the class, described, 21. die, strippingmeans therefor, and means independent of said die and stripping meansfor applying stripping pressure to the 10. In an ornamenting machine ofthe class described. a die holder in said machine, a die 'detachablymounted on said holder, stripping means carried by said die, and meansmounted in said holder, independently of said die for applying strippingpressure to said stripping means.

11. In an ornamenting machine of the class described,a die holder insaid machine, a die de- .tachably mounted on said holder, a stripperplate carried by said die, means mounted in said holder,

. independently of said die for applying stripping said stripper plateeffective to transmit pressures pressure to""said stripper, comprising aplate mounted in said holder for movement-toward.

and from said stripper, pressure applying means in said holdercooperative with said plate, and means interposed between said pressureplate and from the pressure applying means to said stripper.

12. In an ornamentingumachine of the class described, a die holder insaid machine, a die detachably mounted on said holder, a stripper platecarried by said die, means mounted in said holder, independently of saiddie for applying stripping pressure to said stripper, comprising a platemounted in said holder for movement toward and from said stripper,pressure applying means in said holder cooperative with said plate, andmeans interposed between said pressure plate and said stripper plateeffective to transmit pressure from the pressure applying means to saidstripper, said last means comprising studs on die carriage movable insaid machine, an orna menting die detach-ably mounted on said carriage,a stripper carried by said die, means independent of said die forapplying stripping pressure to said 20 stripper, and means carried bysaid plunger for restraining said pressure applying means during anornamenting operation by the die.

15. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a movable worksupporting plunger, an

ornamenting die, stripping means for said die, means independent of saiddie for applying stripping pressure to said stripper, and means carriedby said plunger for moving said pressure applying means from anoperative position to an inoperative position, during the normal cycleof the machine.

16. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a movable worksupport. a die carriage movable relative tosaid plunger, an ornamentingdie secured to said carriage, a stripper carried by said die, meansindependent of said die for actuating s'aid stripper, and means carriedby said plunger for moving said stripper actuating means from anoperative position to an inoperative position, during the normal cycleof the machine.

17. A stripping mechanism for dies, comprising a stripper plateassociated with the die, a pressure applying means independent of thedie and stripper plate for actuating said plate, and means forcontrolling operation of said pressure applying means.

18. A stripping mechanism for dies, comprise ing a die, a supporttherefor, a stripper plate associated with said die, a pressure applyingmeans independent of said die and stripper plate for actuating saidplate, including a member mounted in said support for engagement withsaid stripper plate and for movement therewith, spring means foractuating said member, and means for moving said member againstsaidspring means thereby to compresssame, whereby said spring .meanssubsequently urge said member against said stripper plate to actuatesame through a stripping operation.

' 19. A stripping mechanism for ornamenting dies comprising a diesupport, a die carried thereby, a stripper associated with the cuttingelements of said die, said diesupport comprising a hollow carriage,having a perforatedsurface adjacent the die, a plate slidable in saidsupport, a

series of studs carried by said plate and projecting into theperforations of said surface, spring means carried withinsaidsupporybetween the upper wall thereof nd said plate, said stripperhaving a series of studs disposed in substantial alignment with saidperforations and'of a length sufficient to periodically engage the studson the plate, and means to actuate said plate in a direction away fromthe stripper and against the spring means thereby to compress thelatter, whereby said spring means will urge said plate toward thestripper when said plate actuating means is removed.

20. A stripping mechanism for omamenting dies comprising a, die support,a die carried thereby, a stripper associated with the cutting elementsof said die, said die support comprising a hollow carriage, having aperforated surface adjacent the die, a plate slidable in said support, aseries of studs carried by said plate and projecting into theperforations of. said surface, spring means carried within said supportbetween the upper wall thereof. and said plate, said stripper having aseries of studs disposed in substantial alignment with said perforationsand of a length sufficient to periodically engage the studs on theplate, means to actuate'said plate in a direction away. from thestripper and against the spring means, thereby to compress the latter,whereby said spring means will urge said plate toward the stripper whensaid plate actuating means is removed, and struts within said supporteiIective to support the upper and lower walls thereof against pressuresapplied thereto. i

21. In an omamenting machine of the class described, a movable worksupport, an omamenting die mounted for movement into and outof J analigned operating position relative to said work support, meansassociated with said die for stripping work therefrom, means mounted insaid machine independently of said die for actuating said strippingmeans, and means to actuate said support, dieairdstrippingmeans insynchronized relation.

22. In an omamenting machine of the class described, a movable worksupport, an ornamenting die mounted for movement into and out of analigned operating position relative to said work support, meansassociated with said die for stripping work therefrom, means 'mounted insaid -machine, independently of said die for actuating said strippingmeans, means carried by said support for actuating said stripperactuating means,

and means to actuate said support, die, stripping means and stripperactuating means in synchronized relation.

23. In a stripper for shoe omamenting machines having a die, strippingmeans associated with the die, stripper actuating means associated withthe machine, and means to coordinate the stripping means and thestripper actuating means vwhereby to actuate said stripping means at ain the cycle of operations scribed, comprising a movable work support,an

omamenting die inounted for movement into and out of an alignedoperating position relative to said work support, means to actuate'saiddie, means to actuate said support throughan operating stroke, and meanscontrolled by said die for initiating operation of said supportactuating means, whereby said support will eifect an omamentation of awork piece positioned thereon when the die is in its aligned .operatingposition.

omamenting die mounted for movement into and out of an aligned operatingposition relative to said work support, means to actuate said die to itsaligned position, means to actuate said support through an operatingstroke, means controlled by said die for initiating operation of saidsupport actuating means when the die reaches its aligned positionwhereby said support will effect an ornamentation of a work piecepositioned thereon when the die is in its aligned operating position,and means controlled by said support for initiating operation of saiddie actuating means to return the die to its original position afterornamentation of the work.

27. In an omamenting machine of the class described, a cutting die, astripper plate carried thereby, work marking elements mounted on saidstripper plate, means to apply a marking medium to said markingelements, and means independent of the die for applyingstripping'pressure to said stripper plate. A

28.-Inan omamenting machine of the class described, a cutting die,'astripper plate resiliently mounted thereon, work marking elementsmounted on said stripper plate, means to apply a marking medium to saidmarking elements, and means mounted in spaced relation to said dieeffective to apply stripping pressure to saidstripper plate.

29. In an omamenting machine of the class described, a work support, acutting die, a stripper plate carried thereby, work marking elementsmounted on said stripper plate, means to apply a marking medium to saidmarking elements, driving means to produce a relative movement betweensaid work support, and said die and marking elements, means independentof said die and marking elements for applying stripping pressure to saii stripper plate, and means to actuate said medium applying means fromsaid driving means.

30. In an omamenting machine of the class described, a work support, acutting die, a stripper plate carried thereby, work marking elementsmounted on said stripper plate, means to apply I a marking medium tosaid marking elements, said applying means being normally positioned inan inoperative relation to said marking elements, driving means toproduce a relative movement between said work support, and said die andmarking elements, means independent of said die and marking elements forapplying stripping pressure to said stripper plate, and means to movesaid medium applying means into operative relation to said markingelements and to actuate the same from said driving means.

31. In an omamenting machine of the class described, a cutting die, astripper plate carried thereby, work marking elements mounted on saidstripper plate, and means independent of said die to apply pressure tosaid stripper plate at one point-in the cycle of operations, wherebysaid marking elements will place an impression marking upon the work,and thereafter to apply pressure to said plate whereby to'strip the workfrom 65 sure to said plate whereby to strip the work from 76 the die,and means to vary the pressures 50- applied. a

33. In an ornamenting machine of the class described, a work Supp rt,

stripper, and means for restraining said pressure applying'means duringan ornamenting operation by the die.

34. In ornamenting machines ofthe class' de- I described, a die,stripping means therefor,-means constantly applying stripping pressurethereto,

and means intermittently to apply stripping pressure thereto. 36. In anornamenting machine of the class described, a die, stripping meanstherefor, means an ornamenting die; stripping means for said die, meansindependent of said die for applying stripping pressure to said carriedby said die for constantly applying stripping pressure thereto, andmeans independent of said die intermittently to apply stripping pressurethereto.

37.. In ornamenting machines oi'the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor,v and divided means for applying stripping pressure tosaid stripping means. Y

38. In ornamenting machines of the class described, a die, strippingmeans therefor, and divided means for applying stripping pressure to.

said stripping means, one portion of said divided means being located inspaced relation to said die.

39. In ornamenting machines of the class described, a die, a strippingplate therefor, spring means supporting said stripping plate in operablerelation to said die, and means independent of said die for applyingstrippingpressure to said stripping plate. I

BENJAMIN W. FREEMAN. JOHN SCHNEIDER.

